it arrived!

Remember the apron I won by participating in Nan's week long Apronpalooza? It arrived, and it's even more beautiful in person!!!! Of course I'll share a picture, but I must get myself into the shower first. Would hate to scare anyone. :P

++++++++++++++

Edited to add photo. I mucked around with it, but still couldn't make me look like model material. DAMN! So don't look at me, look at the darling apron. You MUST check out Jump up and Down's etsy shop for all their creations.

Stuff Portrait Friday

Kristine, at Random and Odd proclaimed SPF to be a creation day. Here's one little guy I recently received for Mother's Day from my youngest. Apparently (this is the story she told me) she was making a giraffe because she knows it's my favourite animal. The face didn't turn out right, so now it's a pterodactyl (can't even spell it :P). I think she did a fab job!

So what exactly do you do with all these sculptures? Better yet .. what do you do with all the drawings and books the children bring home once school is finished for the year? So far I've been stuffing things into an old desk, but those drawers are getting dangerously full, and I've weeded out some of the unfinished projects (when the girls aren't looking, of course) .. but seriously .. these breakables? I have no clue!

Did you play?

day one

Day one, and all is still quiet. Dave's off to work, and the girls are still breathing the deep peaceful sleep they so deserve. I happened to be up even earlier then usual .. but that's just me and my crazy sleep patterns of late. Nothing coffee can't help with tho .. so all is good.

Today has dawned a very overcast and dark day and I must admit, I'm getting rather annoyed with Mother Nature. What's with this horrible start to summer, anyway? By the end of June of last year, we had over 200 hours of sunlight during the month. This year .. we haven't even hit 100 yet. *sigh*
I need to work on my tan .. does Mother Nature not realize that?

contests

At Five Minute's For Mom, there's a whole lot of giveaways going on in celebration for the USA's July 4th holiday. Since Canadian's are welcome to enter, I'm so in on them .. so if you're interested .. check out all the hub bub, and get yourself entered.

LDOS

That's right folks .. it's the last day of school 'round these parts. I'm so happy I could giggle .. and just did! :) I think I'm in the minority, but I love the summers. It means NO schedules .. lazy morning wakeups and breakfast .. playing around the house or if it's unbearbly hot, we pack up a picnic lunch and walk up to the nearby playground with a wading pool (filled during the summer months) and enjoy the park program that's going on, the fresh air and the coolness of the water. We venture to the beach, the water parks, and pretty much anywhere our little hearts desire. No early rising (for the girls anyway), no rush to get dressed, teeth and hair brushed, eat breakfast and off to school. No going to the school three times a day for drop off and pickups, no after school activities .. just pure long lazy summer days. Ahhhhhh .. I love it!

Ask me in August if I'm ready for the summer to end .. because sometimes at this point, I tend to forget about the bickering and fighting that happens when two little girls are on the verge of boredom. I. must. keep. them. busy!

She's 8!!

Happy Birthday to my oldest 'baby' girl! So many milestones have been met and I embrace the adventures that will come as you get older. Sometimes, I have to pinch myself to realize that I am actually mother to an 8 yr old! How time has flown since we brought you home, three weeks premature and weighing under 6lbs. The trials of learning to be a parent and the extra care it took to keep you happy and healthy seem so vivid in my mind. You're growing into such a mature and caring girl and as I watch you with your friends .. dealing with certain circumstances .. hearing great things from the people you spend time with .. I realize that we actually ARE doing a good job raising you, with strong values and ethics. I hope they only grow stronger and deeper as time goes on.
We love you, birthday girl!

Love Mommy, Daddy and Alissa

bookworm

Ever since I was little, I've liked to immerse myself into a capturing novel to escape my (what I thought was) dull and boring life. I enjoyed the Trixie Beldon series, Sweet Valley High and those sorts .. then mid teen I discovered Danielle Steele. I still so enjoy reading her books, but I've discovered I'm more of a murder mystery kinda gal. Those CSI type books really intrigue me, but there are times when I need a break from them. I've read a couple LuAnne Rice novels or revert back to Danielle Steele for the mental break but just recently my SIL, S, introduced me to the 'Shopaholic' books. She was reading the last in the series and raved about how good they were. So first chance I could, I checked the first book of the 5 book series, out of the library. That was Monday .. and today I just finished up the last couple chapters and can. not. wait. for the second book! They're funny, mindless reading .. and I giggle out loud at times and find myself just eating up each paragraph quickly. Usually my most active reading time comes in the summer, when we're out playing in the parks, sitting in our own backyard enjoying the warm sunny rays, or camping and this summer I can't wait to devour this series!

trying again

Well that one layout is being stubborn and just doesn't want to upload, so I'm adding some magic and playing a little trick on it. Maybe I can cure it's temper! The layout is bordered with white (which you can't see up against my blog background).

FINALLY getting these scrapped!

I've been married for what? 12 years now? And I have yet to scrap one single wedding photo. The reasons being that ...

1) I was a little intimidated by them. I wanted them to be scrapped perfectly, without me ever feeling like I didn't like the style I scrapped them in.

2) We went low budget with our photographer (BIG mistake) and the photos were less then perfect, and I really had no way of enhancing them until I got my PSE about 6 months ago.

3) And then I still didn't want to attempt them because they still intimidated me.

So awhile ago, on a pretty good 'light' day, I took pictures of the pictures and uploaded them to the PC. I fiddled with afew of them and made them the best I could .. considering. Over the weekend, I pulled up one of the photos and did a little digital scrapping. I figured THIS was the way I'd do it. I was less intimidated. Who cares if I hated what I did with the photos (cropped, used major adhesive, hated the style) because I was using digital images and my originals were still safely in their fancy schmancy silk covered album my little sis made me.

Today I played more .. making two more layouts. Now, I'll share them if you promise not to laugh. I was a 21 yr old bride that had no sense of style, and somehow forgot to go anorexic (it's a joke, people) leading up to the wedding. *sigh*

So with that said .. and please do remember the photographer leaves alot to be desired .. I give you these!

I can't get one to upload. Argh! I'll try later!
Oh yes, and as for credits .. I'll have to share that later too. I don't plan on publishing these at all, so I didn't keep close track of whose elements I was using.

it's a hairy topic

Truth be told .. I dye my hair. I know .. shockers, right? I've been doing it for about ten years now and the longer I do .. the more I NEED to. Let me tell you why.

I was in the middle of the last few weeks of wedding preparations, sitting at my parent's dining room table going over some things with my Mom and younger sister, K .. when out of the blue, K looks at me all weird like and says .. 'is that a grey hair?' She gets up and comes over to my side of the table and begins to pick at my head like a monkey looking for insects on it's partners head. (yes, I just related us to monkeys *shock*) 'OMG, yes it IS a grey hair, Ray!!!!' (that's what she calls me :P) I fell apart, literally. Tears streamed down my face, my shoulders shook as I sobbed out every little bit of stress that had been building up for months. That little grey hair was the straw that broke the camels back, and this was the point when I wondered why on earth I was planning a fancy tado wedding when it would have been far easier to just elope with the man I so loved (and had been living with for 2.5 years already). But I would have regretted not walking down the aisle on my daddy's arm, or dressing up in the big white gown, or dancing our first dance as husband and wife.

So that's when the first of the grey appeared. My first gutsy move about a year later, was to use a rinse dye in it. Guess what colour I picked? Plum! LMAO! What was I thinking? Plum on my waist length, pure virgin hair. Gah! It took alot longer then the 20 washes the box said it would take, to wash out. And in the meantime, I got gutsy enough to also chop the long locks off. Up to the shoulders they went, and I simply LOVED not having that extra weight of the thick long hair I had lived with all my life. It was like another little step to being my own individual (married individual, if that's possible). In that year, I had gotten married, moved 1200+ miles away from home, and cut my hair. I didn't lose my powers tho. ;)

From then on I've lost all fear of colours. I've gone blonder, redder, purplier (is that a word?) and have had so much fun with it! I can't even remember what my real shade of hair is until the roots start to show, and then I'm reminded why it is that I HAVE to keep dying my hair now. That stupid grey hair muliplied and I now have white streaks along the sides that like to be resistant to the dye. Where'd I get those stupid grey hair genes from anyway. *mumble*

Which gets me to the point of all this babbling. My daughters have the most beautiful blonde locks ever. Hailey's hair is so white and pure (tho in the winter it turns a lovely shade of yellow) and I'm reminded that for less then five short years, I too had that pure white hair. Alissa's is a darker blonde, but she has such gorgeous streaks through it .. and it lightens quite abit in the summer months too .. and then in the winter she looks like she has roots. hee!
When I'm out and about with just the girls .. people comment on how they must get their hair colour from their Dad. They'll even go so far as to ask if their Dad has Scandinavian blood? This is my cue to pipe in that I too used to have that colour hair when I was little .. and although they may get 50% of their hair colouring from their Daddy (who is 1/2 Finnish, 1/2 Scottish), they also have 50% Dutch blood running through their little veins too!
One lady, just the other day, commented on how the girls both have blue eyes .. yet I have brown. I kinda laughed and said 'I know, it's kinda hard to tell their even my kids' and she was a dear and said .. 'oh no love, they look so very much like you!' That truly made my day!

five alive

Cori, from Cori's Musings tagged me with this very cool meme. I haven't done this one, so should be fun!

What were you doing 10 years ago?
1. Just celebrated our 2nd year anniversary.
2. Still 'new' to Island living.
3. Working as a secretary for a cedar home building company.
4. making new friends and still living the carefree life without kids
5. taking in lots of sights of my new home .. the Island

Five Snacks You Enjoy:
1. sesame snacks
2. trail mix
3. watermelon (or any kind of fruit actually)
4. veggies and dip
5. gouda on a rusk

Five Songs That You Know All The Lyrics To:
1. O Canada
2. pretty much any baby lullaby
3. From this Moment .. Shania Twain (my trade karaoke song)
4. many Celine Dion songs
5. all the American Idol and Canadian Idol finale songs (I know .. pretty sad!)

Five Things You Would Do If You Were a Millionaire:
1. pay for my schooling I plan on doing, and stash alot away for the girls college fund
2. replenish my wardrobe
3. buy a new house
4. buy Dave and I matching Jeeps
5. fill my house with scrapbook supplies

Five bad habits:
1. coffee
2. yelling at my girls to quickly, without breathing through the anger.
3. doing this funky side to side thing with my jawline .. not noticeable .. but a stress reliever just the same.
4. needing to be showered before I face the world (this is a good bad habit, perhaps)
5. spending to much time on the computer.

Five Things You Like To Do
1. scrapbooking
2. surf the net
3. read
4. watch most reality tv shows
5. geocaching

Five Things You Would Never Wear Again:
1. stirrup pants
2. ripped jeans
3. slouchy socks
4. huge dangly earrings
5. big hair

Five Favorite Toys
1. My lifesize dolly that my youngest sister threw out when she was mad at me. (we were 3 and 5)
2. My little babydoll my Paka (my Mom's dad) gave me on one of his trips out West (he lived in Ontario). Now my girls play with her!
3. My Zeddy bear I bought with my very own money, when I was 12.
4. the barbies my younger sister and I used to play for hours with when we were little. They currently live in a toy box at my Moms .. for my little nieces to play with. I have a pic of my girls playing with them when we were up there last spring.
5. Not exactly a toy .. but a pillow I crocheted the cover for when I was first learning to crochet.

Okay .. once again I have to tag five people but I'm going to cheat and if you're reading this and haven't done this one yet .. try it and let me know so I can come take a peek.

Instructions: Remove the blog from the top, move all blogs up one, add yourself to the bottom.
Absolutely Bananas
Life As I Know It
Life Is All About Choices
Cori's Musings
Dutch Femka

tagged for the seven wonders ;)

I've done this tag before, but it's my sister's first time tagging .. so I'll humour you all again and find seven more facts about me.

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to blog about their seven things and post the rules as well. At the end of your post, choose 7 people to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! OK, here goes...

1) I just got my hair trimmed yeterday, and I'm feeling all sassy and cutesy again. ;)
2) I played the trumpet in school for grades 9, 10, and 11 and worked my way up to second seat. The guy in first seat was just to good for me to get passed.
3) Before the trumpet, my musical love fell on the accordian. My parents 'paid' (actually it was a barter thing) for me to have lessons from a friends Mom. I still have my practice accordian .. all out of tune and sitting in my closet for my girls one day to play.
4) And while we're on the musical topic ... I sang in a church choir Christmas production (musical) four years ago .. and simply LOVED it! I was in my element!
5) I have 21 nieces and nephews, 6 great nieces and nephews with two more on the way and before you freak out .. remember my oldest sister is 17 yrs older then me and her oldest son is only 4 years younger then me. :P
6) I'm waiting on x-ray results to find out if I have plantar facitis (sp?) or arthritis, in my left foot. I'm currently a hobbling fool .. it's so painful!
7) and last but not least .. I'm deathly grossed out by rodents. I can handle the bugs and critters my girls bring home (caterpillars, snails, ladybugs, and even the snakes), but I canNOT even hold a live hamster, guinea pig or worse yet .. a pet rat or mouse. My heart goes into spasms just thinking about it! AND .. I even had hamsters as pets when I was about 10 yrs old. Nasty!

So there ya have it .. a little more about me that perhaps you didn't know.
Since I've done this tag/meme before, I'm not going to tag anyone this time. Although I believe that pretty much everyone I know has done this one already, now .. so it's not all lost. :)
Have a fab humpday!

this and that

Ahhh .. do you hear that? It's the quiet I'm hearing right now as my girlies are in school and I'm actually able to sit and enjoy afew quiet hours. Actually, who am I kidding. I'm not actually sitting (well except for now anyway .. kinda hard to type at a PC standing up) around all afternoon. Laundry still needs to be processed, as do some other household chores. But I'm dying to get my nose into my new book I borrowed from the library.

Things for Hailey's birthday are coming along nicely. My SIL and I always sweat ourselves silly, pouring over birthday cakes this time of year .. but as you could see with the cupcakes for A's party .. I'm going low key this year. I'm actually going to buy H's birthday cake (gasp!) with the geocaching emblem on it. So much easier .. and I won't have to worry about the heat and how fast icing melts when decorating for hours.

I'm also trying to get the teacher's gifts finished for the end of the school year. So lots of crafting!

*cough, cough .. sputter, sputter*

Finally, my body has succumbed to this yucky cold. My head feels as big as a blimp, my body feels like an elephant sat on me, and my throat feels like sandpaper. Oh joy!

How I wish I could just crawl into bed for the day, like D did last week when HE was sick. *sigh*

Happy Father's Day!

I'll give you two guesses as to what we did today? Heehee .. kinda obvious hey?
After catching that fish .. no more were to be had .. so we drove around the countryside, looking for mud and 4x4'ing conditions. And now .. Dave's busy buffing the branch marks off the truck. ;)

And to my own Dad .. what a wonderful man he is! I just finished speaking to him on the phone and he sounds good. I'm so very lucky to come from a home with both parents not only in my life while I lived under their roof, but they have 50+ years under their belt and still are so commited to eachother. I've leaned on his strong shoulders, he's shared my tears, he's always been loving albeit strict .. I look back and am happy he kept the reigns tight with us. I have so many precious and wonderful memories and although he may not remember many of them anymore as he ages with alzheimers .. each one is priceless to me.

So to my dad, and to the man that is dad to our children. Thank you for always being wonderful men!

smashin hit!

When the newly 6 yr old crashes the moment her wee head hits her pillow, you know her day was a full and successful day. She and all her little friends had a wonderful time. I happen to be thankful one party's done .. one more to go .. but hey, that's just busy Mama here talking. ;)

No I don't always allow her to lick knives, but when decorating cupcakes was part of the party schedule, and butter knives were being used, how could I refuse?

She also got some really adorable and creative gifts, and did the polite thing and read the card first with most of them (one card was tucked at the bottom of the gift bag under the gift). I say read, but what I really mean is had her older and intellectual sister, read the cards TO her.

And once everyone went home and supper had been consumed and cleaned up, out came our little gifty for her. And it's THIS expression that makes the entire day ALL worth while!

new blogger

My oldest sister (the one that came recently for a week visit) recently started a blog of her own, titled dutchgramma.
I'm not sure what she's going to fill her space with, but she's a very VERY wise woman that my other sisters and I lean on many times for things such as child rearing and other life lessons. She has three grown boys, one of which has two children (making her a gramma) and one that has a son and is getting married this August, and she is also the mom of my dear departed nephew.
Won't you give her a warm welcome by moseying on over and saying hello. :)

Happy Birthday 'Liss!

Every year, it nearly overwhelms me to think my baby is yet another year older. Last year I cried because I wasn't ready for my baby to enter the next chapter in her life .. school. As hindsight would have it .. it hasn't been that bad of a year and she's loved learning, growing and being a little social thing like I knew she would. This year, I have no fears .. I only have excitement for what lays ahead for her as she'll enjoy a wonderful laid back summer, and then join the ranks of full day school in the fall.

Each and every day there's something Alissa says or does that baffles me. She shows her mature side many times, yet keeps me grounded with sudden outbursts that remind me she's only 5 (6 today). I see so much of my younger self in her .. the spirit that drives her, some indecisiveness, a nurturer and careing little human being, always longing to know more, outdoorsy and an animal lover. Really, the list goes on and I believe if she carries these traits with her into adulthood, she will be a very sophisticated woman.

She's lost six baby teeth, stands 48 and 1/4 inches and is currently still growing out her bangs (her request and the reason for many funny hair days). She's my little spit fire and I couldn't imagine life without her in it.

Happy Birthday Alissa! We are always so proud of you and love you so very much!

my day made

Nan, at Life is Like a Lunchbox had to redraw names for the Apronpalooza she held last week. Apparently four of the winners weren't quick on the draw, and my name was picked in the redrawing of none other then my most favourite apron Nan featured from one of her sponsors (Jump Up and Down). You can see my name in lights, right here! And the apron I won is similar to this one, but toile instead of striped. Yum, yum! I can't wait to wrap it on! :D

forage your own destiny

I'm realizing as I get older and wiser, that following the pack is not in me anymore. I wouldn't say I'm a leader and no longer a follower, but I'm learning to pick my own way through life .. making my own personal choices that are suited for myself and my family. I think this is a gem that only comes with age and experience, and I look forward to reaping even more freedom as each year passes.

he's still a hottie!

I grew up in a religious home where worldly music wasn't aloud. And that actually didn't pose to be a problem because up until I was nearly 13, we lived out in the country where the nearest hick town only served up one country radio station and then I was to young to really care about being much of a rebel. We moved into town just a couple months before I turned 13, and the wonders of TV and so much more was at my very disposal. My parents were still strict about programs we watched, and music other then church music was NOT aloud to blast from any stereo in our home. My younger sister and I would sneak listening to country music, using headphones on my cute little red stereo I saved up paper route money to buy. We snuck our music onto the big family stereo whenever my parents stepped out to shop, etc .. and soon I developed a love for Michael Jackson (yes, I proudly proclaim his music rocked my socks). Over the next few years I couldn't get enough of Glass Tiger, Def Leppard, Ace of Base and many many more. But I have to say that Bon Jovi rocked my world and pretty much every song he put out, I loved. Many years have memories of Bon Jovi attached to them, and now as he releases his latest cd, I can't help but remember why I still love him so much. His voice is so soothing and romantic. His songs have played for many stages in my life .. from necking to the sounds of 'bed of roses' and 'always' and dancing to 'living on a prayer' and 'you give love a bad name', I think my cassette tape wore very thin and ratty. From the long blonde locks of the 80's to the short stylin' do of the millennium, Bon Jovi still rocks my socks with 'make a memory' and 'have a nice day'!

the camera didn't shatter!

So what does one do while waiting upon two little ones to use the restroom AND having camera in hand because we were attending a wedding? Take self portraits of course! lol

The bathroom mirror and lighting are perfect for taking photos .. but the backdrop leaves alot to be desired. But without further ado .. I give you me .. me in all my bathroom glory .. sneaking photos while the stall inhabitants were none the wiser.

artist

It amazes me how much children pick up from the goings on around them, and this picture just proves it. The girls knew about our anniversary .. and I think we've explained the meaning of 'anniversary' every year .. but who knew my little 5 (almost 6) yr old would see what it REALLY means. Love is not a tangible thing, therefore it's harder for little ones to understand it. But apparently she knows you need to love someone in order to be married to them. (whew, I'm relieved to have gotten that message through). Aren't Dave and I cute? I love that we have no hands and that she has us wearing short shirts. Bahahaha

the Experiment

I'm excited to share that I'll be joining in an experiment with some other amateurs .. writing an ongoing story. I feel all awestruck seeing my name in lights!

The story begins tomorrow .. June 11'07 (watch the advert on that site)

Happy 12th Anniversary Baby!

And to end blackANDwhite week, I give you the card I made my wonderful husband for our anniversary.
The red hearts pop off the black and white paper, and I think I may have found a new passion for these two colours (or shall we call them colourless colours?). I went a little nuts with those papers and made the Father's Day cards from it too. hee!

Thank you Krista for allowing me to share in your blackANDwhite week. I had fun looking through the eye of my camera, in a whole new way.

And if you haven't made it over to Krista's blog to check out her week of blackANDwhite .. you've missed amazing talent. Run over and take a peek .. you will not be disappointed!

sunny disposition

It's actually quite interesting to be aware of the angles when photographing in black and white versus colour. Let me explain. This clay sun hangs on our neighbours tree out back. It's pleasant to look at in it's colourful glory, but when I was looking around our yard .. looking for something to photograph in black and white .. I wanted to find some texture. Something that could truly hold it's own even without colour. I believe this sun does it. It's raised rays make me want to reach out and glide my finger across them. The bumpy bark it hangs against gives it a rugged feel that somehow looks much different in this photo even though bark is rather colourless when seen by the naked eye anyway.
And looking at this photo gives me a wee bit of hope that our sunny, beautiful June days will be back again.

what did the little seed say?

Give me lots of water and sun and I shall sprout into a beautiful sunflower!

A couple weeks ago I decided we'd start our own little experiment. I'm the first to admit that I am NOT a green thumb and usually when I have even a house plant .. they land up withering up and dying. Outdoor plants are much of the same, unless they're ivy which I can't seem to kill even if I wanted to. I love sunflowers and so do the girls, so I got us the seeds, necessary starter flats and soil. I tossed in a package of bachelor buttons too, because they'd give the front of our house a little colour. We planted the seeds, and watered them daily .. waiting for the day we saw little buds of green pushing forth from the dirt. And alas we did! They grew and grew, and finally yesterday I decided if we actually wanted flowers, I better do some transplanting before the precious things got too root bound. We now have a row of cute little sunflowers along the back fence (crossing fingers it will get enough sun) and the buttons I put into clay pots and set on the mulch in the front flower bed. I think I'm more anxious then the girls, to see if our little experiment works out .. I can't wait for the blooms!

another one bites the dust

Alissa lost her 6th tooth last evening coming home from swimming lessons. And we have an apple to thank for loosening it up from it's barely loose stage to pulling stage. She was so non-chalant about it too, it was quite cute and I think she's becoming a pro at this whole tooth pulling stuff.
I happen to like this photo in b&w versus colour. And the way she's holding her mouth .. I think the eye is drawn right to her new gaping space. Have I mentioned how incredibly hard this little girl of mine is to photograph. It's like she's strung out on sugar or coffee.(and she's not, but seeing the camera does that to her) She just does. not. stop. moving!

researching

As our 12th wedding anniversary approaches (THIS Sunday!), I've been researching gift ideas. Both Dave and I have not been traditional in our gifts of past years. In fact, rarely do we even do gifts for our anniversary, but rather enjoy time together. Tho my 1st anniversary ring was definitely welcomed and our 10th was celebrated in style at a local resort.
So I discovered that silk is the traditional gift for the 12th anniversary, and what came to mind was naughty things. Things that Dave most certainly would enjoy, but they wouldn't actually be given TO him. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this train of thought, so I shall not go further and risk embarassing myself.
But I must ask. Do men like silk boxers? ;)

rickety dock

While I was away this past weekend, the girls had the chance to get in some real daddy time and did they ever have fun! How did I know they had fun? It could have been because they were completely filthy (faces included) and looked like raggamuffins donning unkept hair. But really it was the constant stories that came spilling from their lips that clued me in. Here's just one of the things they did with Daddy. We absolutely love this little lake and have camped there a few times even tho there's no camping facilities (ie: outhouses even) and this little rickety old dock makes it even more intrigueing. The fishing isn't that great, but the 4x4'ing it takes to get into the lake is definitely worth it! Because of the interesting way the dock was put together, I thought sepia was a perfect solution to aging the photo perfectly.

blackANDwhite week

My friend, Krista at bigandlittle, is hosting a week of black and white photos and I thought I'd jump on her bandwagon and join in as well. Yesterday started with me, and today I'd like to share this one of my girls. I took it in Victoria when we were there last week with my sisters. I loved the rock wall and couldn't get enough of using it as a backdrop for the girls sillyness.

Shhhh

After a week of busyness .. it's quiet around here again. Well, as quiet as it can be, anyway. Last night it was back to sticking to bedtimes and today it's back to trying to make this home look like a home instead of an extension of the dirty outdoors. I did my best to keep things clean but all that chatting and going here and there just got in the way of washing floors and cleaning bathrooms. ;)

So now starts the crazyness of June. Swimming lessons have added to our after school activities for this month, and this week Alissa and I will be designing and making her birthday invites and sorting out details for her party, then it's Hailey's turn the week after. But first we must get through a wedding this weekend, as well as celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary. See? I told you June is one crazy hectic month. Throw in end of school actitivities and I'm going to be SOOO happy to see July and August arrive!

Apronpalooza Contest

Nan at Life is Like a Lunchbox, is on an apron rampage. She's got a week chalk full of apron giveaways and she's got some amazing sponsors on her side. Go check it out, enter if you like, and spread the word too!

some catching up

Whew, we've been so busy doing this and that, going here and there, and most importantly .. yapping up a storm because we're sisters and that's just what sisters do. :P (much to my hubby's dismay .. hee!)

Tuesday night Hailey graded for her red belt in Karate and passed! Woohoo! This one was huge because it was her first belt grading. She was slightly nervous, and I found I was near tears that's how nervous *I* was for her. But she focused and remembered everything she was to remember, and didn't let the fact that two brown and two black belts were watching her every move. (in the photo, Hailey's on the far left)

Wednesday started bright and early as we were off to Victoria to pick up my other older sister from the US ferry. She's riding back up to where Faye (and the rest (almost) of my family) lives, for a week of visiting and spending quality time with our parents. So that meant us three sisters got to spend the rest of Weds, Thurs AND today together before they head out bright and early tomorrow morning. We just spent the remainder of Wednesday snooping along the water front street in Vic, stopping to picnic in the most beautiful city park EVER! We did some shopping, some eating, alot of talking and picture taking and topped the day off with our traditional viewing of Dirty Dancing.

Yesterday while the little girls were in school, us three older girls went for tea in a quaint little tea shop along the water front here in my little big city. It was perfect! We topped the day with mini pedi's here at home, including the little girls and once they were tucked into bed .. what else would three sisters watch but of course a chick flick. I recommend Music and Lyrics by the way. :)